Makati court allows Nur to attend tripartite talks in Jeddah

The Makati Regional Trial Court has allowed former Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) leader Nur Misuari to travel abroad to attend the tripartite meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia next week.

The court granted the petition of Misuari to attend the tripartite meeting between the Philippine government, the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) and as representative of the MNLF in the 1996 peace agreement.

In a three-page order, the court also allowed co-accused Ustadj Abu Haris Usman to accompany Misuari to attend the meeting on Nov. 10 to 12.

The court allowed the two accused with the understanding that both will return to the country after the conference and will not engage in any other political activity inimical to the Philippine government.

Misuari and Usman have been detained on charges of rebellion and were allowed to stay at a house in Quezon City near St. Luke’s Hospital for medical reasons.

Branch 50 Executive Judge Winlove Dumayas ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) to provide security for the two in attending the meeting.

Dumayas also allowed the two jailed Muslim leaders to pray at a mosque in Makkah Al-Mukarrahah during their stay in Saudi Arabia but must return to the country by Nov. 13.

Dumayas has ordered the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to issue a  passport for the detained Muslim leader.

The order said Misuari and Usman will be allowed to leave their place of detention in New Manila, Quezon City as soon as their travel documents have been secured.

The DFA, on the other hand, said Misuari will not be issued a passport unless he submits a “sovereign” guarantee from the Saudi government that will ensure his return to the country.

DFA Undersecretary Franklin Ebdalin explained the “sovereign” guarantee from the Saudi government is a requirement in the court order allowing him to attend the tripartite meeting in Jeddah.

“The DFA will issue him a passport but he has to submit a sovereign guarantee from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It is a requirement of the court in its decision,” Ebdalin said.

He emphasized the DFA is only complying with the court requirements before a passport can be issued.

“This guarantee means his departure can be done after the tripartite meeting in Saudi Arabia,” Ebdalin added.

Presidential adviser on the peace process Jesus Dureza said the government looks forward to Misuari’s attendance in the tripartite meeting in Jeddah.

The OIC has asked the Philippine government to allow Misuari to attend the long-delayed tripartite meeting.

Sayed El-Masry, special adviser to OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, said Misuari’s presence is essential in the gathering that will review the 1996 peace agreement between the government and the MNLF.

Romeo Montenegro, chief of the communications department of the Office of the Presidential Assistant on the Peace Process (OPAPP), said the tripartite meeting was initially scheduled on Nov. 6 to 8 but was instead moved to Nov. 10.

The postponement was reportedly due to the long holiday last week while the petition for Misuari’s furlough was still being worked out.

The MNLF had accused the Philippine government of reneging on its commitment to fully implement the 1996 peace agreement.

The MNLF has elevated the problem before the OIC Committee of Eight which, in turn, had sent May last year a team led by Ambassador Al Masry of Egpyt to determine what were the necessary steps to be taken to resolve the issue.

Al Masry recommended a tripartite meeting should be held in Jeddah. The meeting, however, has been postponed for several times because of the tight schedule of the OIC members.

Misuari, as MNLF chairman, was the main signatory in the 1996 peace agreement with the government.

Officials of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and MNLF officials, on the other hand, hailed the decision to allow Misuari to attend the meeting in Jeddah.

“The development augurs well (for) President Arroyo’s peace and reconciliation thrust with the Muslim sectors in Mindanao. It’s very positive. Thanks to the judiciary,” said ARMM Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan, who will lead the ARMM’s delegation to the tripartite meeting.

Ampatuan expressed optimism that the meeting can finally iron out all the perceived kinks in the 1996 agreement.

Mahendra Madjilon, Misuari’s former information director in the ARMM, said he is convinced the participation of the jailed MNLF founder will boost the image of the Philippine government before the OIC.

“It will project to the OIC that the Philippine government is serious in addressing the decades-old Moro problem in Mindanao,” Madjilon said.

The OIC, a pan-Islamic block of 58 Muslim countries, including petroleum-exporting states in the Middle East, helped broker the GRP-MNLF peace agree­ment in 1996. – With Edith Regalado, Pia Lee-Brago, John Unson